• Additional funding opportunities to support fieldwork, overseas institutional visits, and costs associated with the mandatory three-month research placement.
• Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA), providing additional funding to support reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities or long-term conditions.

Together, these benefits ensure that awardees receive the financial stability, research resources, and professional development support required to excel during their doctoral studies.

Why Apply

The Department of Politics at the University of Liverpool provides an intellectually stimulating environment supported by internationally recognised researchers. The department is part of a thriving research community within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, offering access to specialist training, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a wide range of academic and professional development resources.

Students joining the Politics PhD Programme become part of the North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP), a collaborative network involving several leading universities. This partnership offers:

• Access to advanced methodological and professional training
• Opportunities to participate in collaborative research networks
• Mentoring, mobility, and placement options across academia, policy, and industry sectors
• A supportive, inclusive environment promoting high-impact research in the social sciences

Graduates from the programme go on to successful careers in academia, government, public policy, NGOs, and the private sector.

Application Process

The application process consists of two stages:

Step 1: Apply to the University of Liverpool’s Politics PhD Programme
Applicants must first secure an offer of admission from the Politics Department. This ensures that the proposed project aligns with departmental research strengths and that appropriate supervision is available.